There was a time in the not-too-distant past history of baseball when a catcher could block the plate before the baseball’s arrival. As a result, there were incredible collisions at the dish. The Dodgers had a few backstops that perfected this practice. Steve Yeager and Mike Scioscia come to mind. However, there is one Dodger backstop who distinguishes himself for protecting home plate on the field, while breaking barriers off of it. His name is Roy Campanella.
Roy Campanella: A Dodgers Legend in Every Sense
Someone to Man the Dish
Campanella’s journey to Cooperstown began in high school. The baseball coach held tryouts and told the prospective players to run to the position they wanted to play. Campanella trotted to the outfield with several hundred others. As he reached his destination, he looked back toward home plate and realized there was no one behind it. Campanella ran back to the infield, and a catcher was born.
The Negro Leagues
At the age of 16, Campanella was recruited to play for the Baltimore Elite Giants. Although reticent to leave his family, Campanella could not turn the paycheck the Giants offered him in the midst of the Depression. He soon distinguished himself as one of the top defensive catchers in the league. Along with his strong throwing arm, “Campy” would have a batting average above .300 for six consecutive seasons. Consequently, he beat out standout catcher Josh Gibson for the Negro League All-Star nod twice.
On the Heels of Jackie
While on an exhibition tour, Campanella caught the eye of Branch Rickey, and the young backstop eventually signed with the Dodgers in 1946. In 1948, a year after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, Campanella made his major league debut. In his 10-year career as a Brooklyn Dodger, Campanella may have been the best defensive catcher in the National League. He won three National League Most Valuable Player Awards in 1951, 1953, and 1955. Campanella also appeared in eight consecutive All-Star games, as well as five World Series, winning it all in 1955. His career home run total was 242. One wonders how many more he would have hit had it not been for the injuries he battled throughout his career.
Above all, he was loved and respected by his teammates. He was a favorite for his leadership on the field, and his approachable happy demeanor off of it.
A Patch of Ice Changes Everything
Campanella had several down years as he continued to struggle with injuries. But he was confident of a comeback in 1958, the year the Dodgers were to relocate to Los Angeles. But in January, Campanella hit a patch of ice on his way home one night and lost control of his car. As a result, he was paralyzed from his shoulders down.
. @TheVinScully reflects on Roy Campanella. Love this so much pic.twitter.com/Y8l8enpe8U
— BaseballHistoryNut (@nut_history) December 14, 2020
Lasorda’s Coach
After a significant stay in the hospital where Campanella fought to live, the Hall of Famer was approached by newly-appointed manager Tommy Lasorda, who asked Campanella to be his coach. “Roy, I know you can’t walk, but there’s nothing wrong with your mind.” Campanella accepted Lasorda’s offer and served as a mentor and a coach for the Dodgers until his death in 1993.
Roy Campanella broke barriers as a baseball player and a man. He did so with unbending will and uncommon grace in spite of the many obstacles he faced. In the end, the Hall of Fame catcher gave us an example of how to greet difficulties in life with joy, grit, and an unbreakable spirit.
Photo Credit: © CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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